London – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce new restrictions on social media and other digital services including a social media ban for under-16s similar to that enacted in Australia; messaging restrictions for gaming platforms; and limits on daily usage for under-18s.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Senior Director and head of CCIA’s London office Matthew Sinclair:
“Responsible companies are working hard to deliver a safer online experience for children. Ministers should be very careful about preventing teenagers from engaging with digital services which, for many of them, are a valued way to learn new skills, discover new interests and stay in touch with friends and family. Blanket restrictions will stifle access to age-appropriate experiences with proper parental controls, encouraging children to seek out riskier unregulated alternatives.”